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FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Restoration Scripture
Week 4: January 19-25: "The Fall of Adam and Eve"

Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5

Doctrinal Focus
Historical & Contextual
Apologetic Application
Practical Applications
Ideas for Teaching
Quick Reference

Doctrinal Focus

  • Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading
  • Adam and Eve’s choice to partake of the fruit introduced mortality, agency, and the opportunity for growth. While it brought pain and death, it also allowed for joy, learning, and progression (Moses 5:10–11). This shows that the Fall was not merely a tragedy but a divinely foreseen part of God’s eternal design.

As Adam declared, “Because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy” (Moses 5:10). Eve also rejoiced that without the Fall, they would not have known good from evil or the joy of children (Moses 5:11). The Fall opened the door for human families and experiences that prepare us for eternal life.

Satan’s role in tempting Adam and Eve, while destructive, created the necessary opposition for humanity to exercise choice (Moses 4:6–7). As Lehi taught, “it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). Without choice between good and evil, there could be no righteousness or joy.

Even though Satan sought to destroy God’s plan, the Lord provided a Redeemer (Moses 4:31). This demonstrates God’s wisdom—He permits temptation and trial, but always prepares a way for His children to choose Him and overcome through the Savior.

  • Adam and Eve were commanded to offer sacrifices, which “was a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father” (Moses 5:7). These ordinances taught them, and teach us, to look to Christ as the source of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

Even as death and hardship entered the world, God promised deliverance through His Son (Moses 5:8–9, 14–15). Abel’s offering, made “in faith” (Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4), illustrates the power of trusting in Christ. This focus shifts the narrative of the Fall from despair to hope in God’s redemptive plan.

Historical & Contextual Insights

  • Insights in this week’s study
  • The events of the Fall take place in the Garden of Eden, a sacred place prepared by God for Adam and Eve. It represents a paradisiacal state before mortality, sin, or death entered the world.

Adam and Eve lived in innocence until they were given the commandment not to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Their choice, influenced by the serpent’s deception, brought mortality, toil, and hardship into human experience (Genesis 3; Moses 4).

  • This event is foundational for understanding why mortality is filled with both suffering and joy. The Fall is not portrayed as a failure but as a divinely anticipated step, making possible agency, family life, and redemption through Christ.
  • Today, understanding the Fall helps us reframe challenges. Life’s difficulties are not evidence that God has abandoned us; they are essential parts of His plan for our growth, which prepares us to rely on Jesus Christ.
  • Adam and Eve’s transgression brought two kinds of death into the world: physical death (the separation of spirit and body) and spiritual death (separation from God’s presence). These conditions affected not only them but all their posterity. Yet God immediately promised a Savior, showing that redemption was part of the plan from the beginning.
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  • Physical death, though often feared, is temporary—Christ’s resurrection assures that all will rise again (1 Corinthians 15:21–22; Alma 11:42–44).
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  • Spiritual death is overcome through repentance and faith in Christ, who restores us to God’s presence when we covenant with Him and keep His commandments (Moses 5:8–9).
  • Contrary to common portrayals of the Fall as solely tragic, the scriptures show Adam and Eve recognizing the blessings that came from their choice. Adam declared his joy in seeing God’s plan unfold, and Eve rejoiced that their transgression allowed for children and the knowledge of good and evil (Moses 5:10–11). Their perspective shows faith, gratitude, and hope rather than despair.
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  • This insight corrects misconceptions that Eve was cursed or solely to blame—she is instead honored as a partner in God’s plan, choosing to embrace mortality so that life and joy could follow.
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  • Their rejoicing models how disciples today can find joy in adversity, trusting that hardship refines us and that Christ’s redemption transforms loss into eternal blessing.

If you have questions on this week’s reading, please email your questions to us here.

Apologetic Application

  1. Claim: “The Fall was a catastrophic mistake that derailed God’s intentions.”
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  3. Response:
  4. Historical Evidence: Ancient Christian and Jewish traditions sometimes portrayed the Fall as negative, but restored scripture (Moses 5:10–11; 2 Nephi 2:22–25) reveals that it was anticipated by God as part of His plan.
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  6. Eyewitness Support: Adam and Eve themselves rejoiced after the Fall, testifying that it brought knowledge, joy, and the blessing of children (Moses 5:10–11).
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  8. Spiritual Confirmation: Modern prophets affirm that the Fall was not an accident but a necessary step for humanity’s progression, and the Spirit can testify that this doctrine brings hope rather than despair.
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  10. Logical Analysis: Without the Fall, there would be no mortality, families, or need for a Savior. The very existence of redemption through Christ presupposes the Fall as part of God’s eternal plan.
  • Claim: “Eve is primarily responsible for humanity’s suffering.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: While some traditions blame Eve exclusively, modern revelation (Moses 4–5) shows that both Adam and Eve acted with agency and contributed to God’s plan.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Eve herself testified that the Fall allowed humankind to know joy and have children (Moses 5:11). Her words reveal deep understanding, not ignorance.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Modern prophets honor Eve as a noble and courageous partner in God’s plan, and the Spirit confirms her choice was essential for human progression.
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  • Logical Analysis: To single out Eve oversimplifies the narrative. Both Adam and Eve chose, both bore consequences, and both rejoiced in the blessings that resulted.
  • Claim: “God set Adam and Eve up to fail.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: Scripture consistently teaches that opposition is necessary for agency (2 Nephi 2:11; Moses 4:6). God allowed Satan to tempt, but did not compel Adam and Eve’s choice.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Adam and Eve bore witness that through opposition they gained knowledge and joy, affirming that temptation ultimately furthered God’s plan (Moses 5:10–11).
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: The Spirit testifies that God’s allowance of opposition was an act of love, enabling His children to learn, grow, and choose Him freely.
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  • Logical Analysis: Without opposition, agency would not exist. A genuine choice requires alternatives—Satan provided one, but redemption through Christ provided the greater, saving alternative.

Practical Applications

Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:

Action Step: When facing hardship, remind yourself: “This is part of God’s plan for my growth.”

Understanding the Fall reframes trials not as punishment but as purposeful. Adversity refines us and prepares us for eternal joy.

  1. – Write down a current challenge.
  2. – Pray and ask God to show what you can learn from it.
  3. – Record one positive growth or blessing you’ve already seen from this trial.
  4. – Share your experience with a friend or family member to strengthen faith.

Encouraging Thought:

Adam and Eve rejoiced even in the consequences of the Fall: “Because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy” (Moses 5:10).

Action Step: Identify one decision you can make this week that prioritizes God’s plan over convenience or comfort.

Eve’s faithful choice brought mortality, family, and the possibility of eternal life. Remembering her courage encourages us to choose righteousness even when it comes with sacrifice.

  1. – Reflect on an area of life where you’ve delayed a righteous choice.
  2. – Decide one concrete step you can take this week to act in faith.
  3. – Pray for strength to follow through.
  4. – Acknowledge the long-term blessings, even if they require short-term sacrifice.

Encouraging Thought:

Eve declared, “Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption” (Moses 5:11).

  • Action Step: Offer a prayer of gratitude each day this week specifically for Christ’s atonement and resurrection.

Just as Adam and Eve were taught that their sacrifices pointed to Christ, we center our lives on Him by remembering His atonement daily. This builds hope and resilience.

  1. – Begin each day with prayer, thanking Heavenly Father for Jesus Christ.
  2. – Read one verse each day that testifies of Christ’s redeeming role (e.g., Moses 5:7–9).
  3. – Apply it by noticing one way Christ has blessed your life recently.
  4. – Record your impressions in a journal.

Encouraging Thought:

  • “All things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me” (Moses 6:63) — every part of life can point us back to Christ.

Ideas for Teaching

Objective: Help learners understand why God allows opposition and how it strengthens agency.

A rope for tug-of-war, chalkboard/whiteboard.

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction (5 min): Have two small groups do a light tug-of-war with the rope. Ask: “What made this activity possible?” Point out that both sides (opposition) were required.
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  3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read 2 Nephi 2:11 and Moses 4:6–7. Discuss how Satan’s role created the possibility for agency. Write “Opposition → Choice → Growth” on the board.
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  5. Application (5 min): Invite learners to share examples where opposition or hardship led to growth in their lives. Connect this to how God uses opposition for our good.

Follow-Up Question: How does seeing opposition as part of God’s plan change the way you approach your daily challenges?

Objective: Recognize Eve’s wisdom and courage in choosing to partake of the fruit and how it blesses us today.

Paper apples (or fruit cutouts), markers.

Activity Steps:

Introduction (5 min): Hand out paper apples. Ask learners to write something hard they’ve had to choose in the past that turned out to be a blessing.

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Moses 5:11. Highlight Eve’s joy in her decision. Share a short insight on how the restored gospel honors Eve’s choice as part of God’s plan.

Application (5 min): Have volunteers share what they wrote on their apples. Display them as a reminder that hard choices often lead to greater blessings.

Follow-Up Question: What can we learn from Eve about trusting God when the right choice isn’t the easiest choice?

Objective: Show how the sacrifices Adam and Eve made pointed them—and us—to Jesus Christ.

A picture of an altar or lamb, scriptures, slips of paper.

Activity Steps: 

Introduction (5 min): Display the picture of an altar or lamb. Ask: “Why do you think God would ask Adam and Eve to make sacrifices after leaving Eden?”

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Moses 5:5–7. Explain that animal sacrifice was a symbol of Christ’s ultimate atonement. Write “Sacrifice = Christ” on slips of paper and distribute.

Application (5 min): Ask learners to think of one personal sacrifice (time, habits, service) they can dedicate to Christ this week. Invite them to write it down and keep it as a reminder.

Follow-Up Question: How does making small sacrifices for the Lord today strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ?

QUICK REFERENCE

  • The Fall was not an accident but a vital part of God’s plan, allowing humanity to experience joy, growth, and family life.

     

  • Opposition is necessary for agency—without it, there could be no real choice or growth.

     

  • Adam and Eve rejoiced in the blessings of the Fall, showing faith and courage rather than despair.

     

  • All sacrifices and ordinances from the beginning pointed to Jesus Christ as Redeemer.

     

  • Our trials today mirror the pattern of the Fall: hardship opens the way for greater joy through Christ.
  • Why trust modern prophets?
    • Prophets provide restored understanding that corrects misconceptions (e.g., honoring Eve’s role, seeing the Fall as part of God’s plan).
    • Their consistent witness clarifies doctrine across time, anchoring faith in revealed truth.
    • The Spirit confirms their words as a source of living guidance and protection.
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    • Why does God allow mistakes?
    • Mistakes and opposition are central to agency—without them, there is no growth or progress.
    • God’s plan anticipates error and provides a Savior to redeem us.
    • Our missteps can become stepping-stones when we turn to Christ, just as Adam and Eve’s “transgression” became the doorway to life and joy.

  • 2 Nephi 2:25 — “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”